Tides leave beachgoers stranded
IT was a busy bank holiday weekend for Burry Port Lifeboat Station.
After responding to a number of call-outs for people stranded by incoming high tides on Friday and Saturday, they were also busy on Sunday.
At around 5.30pm on Sunday they deployed two boats to join the search for a missing child on Cefn Sidan beach, but as the lifeboats hit the water it was reported the child had been found safe and well.
At around 7.40pm they were called to help search for three youths seen trapped on breakwaters at Llanelli beach, but by the time they reached the scene the youths had made their way to the beach.
Burry Port Lifeboat’s busy weekend started on Good Friday.
A spokesman said that at 5.28pm on Friday the station was paged by Milford Haven UK Coastguard to assist a number of people cut off by the fast, incoming and very high tide, in the Pembrey Old Harbour area.
A spokesman said: “Both boats were requested and launched, but our inshore lifeboat, D class Diane Hilary initially found a group of 14 people, who were transported to safety, and then another group of six people were also ferried back to the beach.
“Both boats returned to the boathouse, and as clean down started, another request came in to assist two persons cut off on the Cefn Sidan side of the Old Harbour. They were attempting to try and cross to safety, so the D class ILB was relaunched, located and transported the two persons to safety.”
On Saturday, Burry Port Lifeboat station responded to a call at 6.12pm, to assist two persons cut off by the tide in the Pembrey Old Harbour area. Within minutes the crew was on the scene and picked up the two persons and returned them to safety.
The Burry Port spokesman added: “On the short return journey, another call came in for three youths, in the water, fully clothed off Llanelli Beach, drifting with the tide towards the Machynys area. Our volunteer crew headed immediately to the area. The youths were located, and escorted to safety and handed over to UK Coastguard Mobile rescue units. No medical attention was required.”
Find out more online at... walesonline.co.uk/ llanelli